Montco DA salutes four Hatboro officers for crime fighting efforts

Thursday

The Hatboro police department may be smaller than many others in the county but it is equal to any when it comes to professionalism, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Four Hatboro officers — Chief James Gardner, Detective Sgt. Cameron Goold, Sgt. James Petrik and Officer Andrew Valleley — Wednesday were singled out by Ferman for their “outstanding investigation” that led to the arrest and conviction of an armed robber.

“Nothing is more frightening for the public than facing an armed suspect,” said Ferman.

“The professionalism, determination and teamwork displayed during this painstaking investigation by (the four officers) are in keeping with the highest traditions of law enforcement and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office,” said Ferman in presenting individual commendations to the four.

The presentation took place before a standing-room-only crowd of some 80-plus law enforcement officers, the district attorney’s staff and family members packing a courtroom at the county courthouse.

Two civilians, a former police chief and three members of the Conshohocken police department also were saluted for their crime fighting efforts during the annual Law Enforcement/Civilians Commendation program.

The crime that focused the attention on Hatboro police involved the Jan. 27, 2012, armed robbery of the family-run Burdick’s News Agency.

A masked man, wielding a handgun and pointing it at two customers and the store’s owner, entered the store at about 12:45 p.m., demanding all of the store’s money, about $900. After directing the three to the back of the store, the robber fled out the front door.

Police, securing video surveillance footage showing the robber fleeing on a mountain bike, released the video and still images to the media. The strategy paid off, with police receiving several anonymous tips that pointed them toward Suliman Ali, aka Stanley Roberts, 74, formerly of the first block of Hunters Way, Hatboro, said Ferman.

Police found the mountain bike matching the description of the one used by the robber behind Ali’s home. They subsequently applied for a search warrant of the home, seizing a .38-caliber handgun matching that used in the robbery as well as other incriminating evidence including fingerless gloves and a blue backpack, according to Ferman.

In addition, police recovered a black knit watch cap near the robbery scene that matched the description of the one worn by the robber. The DNA recovered from the cap matched Ali’s DNA, said Ferman.

Armed with this evidence, county prosecutor Nathan Schadler went to court last month and, in a nonjury trial before Judge Gary S. Silow, won convictions against Ali on charges of robbery and related offenses.

Ali, who has an extensive criminal history, now is being held in the county prison without bail while he waits to be sentenced.

Schadler said Ali’s criminal record dates back to 1963 and includes arrests in both California and New Jersey for armed robbery, attempted murder, kidnapping, attempted breaking and entering and other offenses. Ali has served time in state prisons in both of those states and, at the time of the Burdick’s robbery, was on parole from a crime committed in New Jersey.

Schadler said he is currently investigating whether the robbery can be considered a “second strike” offense of a repeat violent offender, which would result in a mandatory 10- to 20-year prison sentence, or even a “third strike” offender, which would result in a mandatory 25- to 50-year sentence or even life sentence.

The others receiving commendations included:

Robert P. Adams, the former West Norriton police chief, for his 39 years of dedicated service to the law enforcement community. Julie Knudson for taking the lead in creating the Montgomery County Cyber Bullying/Bullying Task Force that has developed detailed manuals setting forth guidelines that can be used by both law enforcement and the community in dealing with bullying. Conshohocken police Officers Joseph Glasgow, Matthew Foster and David Phillips for their handling of a routine drunken-driving arrest that turned violent, with one officer suffering a dislocated shoulder. Donna McCloskey for her observations on the day a 5-month-old baby died in August 1992 and for her testimony that helped win a third-degree murder conviction of the child’s babysitter some 20 years later.